Chlorine is routinely used for drinking water disinfection because it is a very effective way to reduce bacteria, viruses and parasites. Chlorine also helps to reduce bacterial growth, biofilm formation and recontamination of water as it travels from the treatment plant to your home. The use of chlorine in the treatment of drinking water has virtually eliminated waterborne diseases because chlorine can kill or inactivate most micro-organisms commonly found in water. The majority of drinking water treatment plants in Canada use some form of chlorine to disinfect drinking water. The success of chlorine use in Canada today can be measured by the dramatic reduction of waterborne diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera and dysentery.
Drinking water treatment is a balance between ensuring the proper disinfection of water to control the presence of pathogens that can cause severe acute illness and potentially death, while minimizing the formation of disinfection by-products that are associated with cancer risks over long-term exposures.
